How to become a successful female chef

If you aspire to be the next Rachael Ray or Giada (that is, Giada De Laurentiis, but she needs no surname), your dream can become a reality with some hard work, great kitchen skills and a drive to succeed.

In a world where the majority of women run the kitchens in their households, it’s quite surprising that the majority of top chefs are men. They run the hot, high-stress cooking lines at five-star restaurants, and we run the cooking and cleaning duties at home. They please high-paying customers while we try to please our demanding 2-year-old. It can be a challenge running a restaurant and running a household, which is why so many women never make it. Women chefs are wanted, though, and needed. If you wish to achieve success by owning or operating a critically acclaimed restaurant, overcome boundaries and take the necessary steps to becoming a successful female chef — starting now.

Step 1: Find your niche

The first step in becoming a successful female chef is finding your cooking niche. Do you prefer baking, grilling, creating ethnic foods or making specialty dishes? To find the answer, be willing to explore and try new things. If you’re able to travel and learn about other cultures, do it as often as possible. Once you’ve found your niche, perfect it. Become a master of your specialty.

Step 2: Get a formal education

Whether you’re looking to open up your own restaurant or be a head chef at one that already exists, a formal education is necessary. Find a culinary school in your area and enroll in some classes. If you have the talent and an education to back it up, the road to success will be that much easier.

Step 3: Be willing to start at the bottom

A businessman isn’t hired on as CEO right away, and a chef won’t be running the line immediately, either. Be willing to start at the bottom and work your way up. Prove yourself, go out of your way to help others and look up to those above you for guidance and mentorship. After you’ve gotten some experience under your belt, you’ll be able to seek the higher positions.